Accused murderer was Hamilton victim’s neighbour

Man arrested moved to Oshawa in spring

SITTER

Four months after Ernie Sitter was found beaten to death in his apartment, a neighbour has been charged with his murder.

Rodney Ryan, 42, continued to live in the King Street East building for another six weeks or so after Sitter's death, neighbours say.

On Wednesday, police announced Ryan, 42 — who moved to Oshawa this spring — has been charged with second-degree murder in the death.

"He went on as if 'Who could do this?' He went to the funeral. He consoled me outside," neighbour Sherry Helms said, shaking her head.

Homicide unit Staff Sergeant Matt Kavanagh said Ryan was not originally considered a suspect but came onto the police radar as the investigation progressed.

While news of the arrest came as a shock to neighbours four months later, it also brought "a sigh of relief."

"Ernie can finally rest in peace," Helms said.

The 57-year-old former Lafarge Hamilton worker was found beaten to death in his apartment shortly after dinnertime Jan. 9. Family came to check on him after a neighbour — who had plans to meet him two days before — said Sitter wasn't answering his door.

An autopsy revealed he died of blunt-force trauma.

Several residents in the building described Ryan — who was the boyfriend of their former superintendent — as a drinker with a temper.

Another neighbour, Mike Connolly, said he was "OK when he's sober."

But when he drank, "the guy just flipped out."

Neighbours say he had physical run-ins with other tenants prior to Sitter's death but that no one had ever reported the altercations to police. Police are still looking for a motive in the beating death, Kavanagh said. They are not looking for any more suspects.

Kavanagh would not comment on whether police believe the alleged killer forced his way into the apartment, near Gage Park, or whether they argued.

Ryan, who was scheduled to appear in court in Hamilton on Wednesday, was previously known to police but not for anything of a violent nature.

In February, police appealed to the public to help locate a couple who had been seen outside the apartment the day Sitter was found. The accused is not one of these people.

Sitter was described by friends and former coworkers as generous despite his struggles with alcohol.

In January, former coworker Sam Fisher told the Spectator that Sitter "was such a generous man … he'd give you the shoes right off his feet, if you needed them."

Friend and neighbour Pauline Douglas also described him as a "good man" and "nice guy."

"Ernie was a very nice man, well liked … this is nice for his family. Hopefully they can get some closure," Kavanagh said.